Chronic Absenteeism
Community August 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE-
The Georgia Department of Education defines “Chronic Absenteeism” as students who miss more than 10% of the school year (18 days), excused or unexcused. Gilmer County Schools ranks 126th out of 181 districts in student attendance.
Over TWENTY TWO PERCENT of our students are considered “chronically absent”. That means too many of our children are missing out on valuable learning time — and every missed day makes it harder for them to stay on track.
When students are absent, they don’t just miss lessons. They miss opportunities to build confidence, connect with classmates, and prepare for their future. Even a few absences here and there add up quickly, and students who miss 10 or more days a year are at a much greater risk of falling behind academically.
We need your help. Please make school attendance a top priority in your home. Unless your child is sick or there is a family emergency, we ask that you send them to school every single day. Together, we can build a culture of consistency, responsibility, and success for all our students.
Our goal is not simply to lower our percentage of chronically absent students — it’s to give every child the best chance to succeed. Let’s show our students that education is important, and that we believe in their future.
Thank you for your partnership in making Gilmer County Schools stronger, one day at a time.

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